Gov. Bobby Jindal endorses U.S. Senate candidate in Kansas; still mum on David Vitter

BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Bobby Jindal has backed a GOP candidate for U.S. Senate in Kansas, even as he's so far refused to endorse anyone in federal races in Louisiana, including Republican Sen. David Vitter in his re-election bid.

Jindal's spokesman, Kyle Plotkin, ignored repeated questions Monday about why the Republican governor has chosen to endorse a candidate elsewhere but won't offer recommendations to voters in his home state for the Nov. 2 election.

"If we decide to endorse someone, we'll let you know," Plotkin said in an e-mail, refusing to respond to follow-up questions.

The governor issued a statement late last week, saying he was supporting GOP Congressman Jerry Moran in the Kansas Senate race.

"We need more members of Congress who are willing to make fiscally responsible decisions to cut wasteful spending, not raise taxes, and create an economic environment that will grow jobs in America. That is why I am pleased to endorse Jerry Moran for U.S. Senate in Kansas," Jindal said in the statement released by Moran's campaign.

The move comes as Jindal has faced repeated questions in Louisiana for his refusal to endorse Vitter, the scandal-plagued senator, for a second term against Democrat Charlie Melancon, a congressman.

Jindal headlined a December 2008 fundraiser for Vitter. But the governor hasn't given his formal word of support to Vitter, who was tainted by a 2007 prostitution scandal and more recent revelations that Vitter allowed an aide to stay on the job for two years after pleading guilty to charges in an attack on his ex-girlfriend.

The governor has endorsed candidates in previous federal and state races. This time around, Jindal has suggested he may skip endorsements in Louisiana races, saying he thought voters were "smart enough to make up their own minds."

Besides the Senate race, also on the November ballot are six U.S. House races, a special election for lieutenant governor and 10 proposed constitutional amendments.